ST. PETERSBURG, July 24. /TASS/. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko pledged on Thursday that Russia does everything possible for sports development citing an opening of 2015 FINA World Championships in the Volga River city of Kazan.

"We have always been developing our country and will continue doing so," Mutko said addressing journalists in St. Petersburg, where they gathered for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on July 25. "Today Kazan opens the FINA World Championships."

"There will be a total of six competitions with 190 countries participating and some 2,600 athletes taking part," the Russian sports minister said commenting on the FINA World Championship in Kazan. "You will be witnessing an outstanding [opening] ceremony as well as newly constructed sports facilities."

"I am positive that the [2018] World Cup will be held at the same outstanding level as well," he said. "No matter, who the future [FIFA] president will be or who will be the members of the Executive Committee, they would have no impact on the most important event of FIFA."